Honestly I would take a look at Semin - if the prevailing opinion among fans and media is correct ( ) he could end up being very underpaid for his skill level - however if the guy is still unable to speak the language to me that's just the straw that breaks the camel's back (in addition to questions about his compete level, defensive play, IMO the biggest question of all being the move from the SE division to the Western Conference).

I'd say we'd do very, very well if we could add Nash to the right side of the Sedin's! Drop Burr back to play with Kess!

How, don't ask me??? Luongo would have to be part of the package. More bumps in that road than a Saskatchewan highway but the question was posed and that's my answer. Hank, Dank and Nash would be a thing of beauty.

ODB wrote:I'd say we'd do very, very well if we could add Nash to the right side of the Sedin's! Drop Burr back to play with Kess!

How, don't ask me??? Luongo would have to be part of the package. More bumps in that road than a Saskatchewan highway but the question was posed and that's my answer. Hank, Dank and Nash would be a thing of beauty.

How about Hartnell? He showed some chemistry with the Sedins during the all star game. I am not sure how MG can get Hartnell but he could be a cheaper option than Nash or Ryan.

If we're looking short term Doan is the man. I see Taylor Pyatt just left the Coyotes is this a sign that players are starting to worry about the possible ownership ?

If how ever we're looking longer term Ryan would be better. However i understand Bobby Clarke has a close relationship with the Ryan family .... so we may end up picking up a player from the Flyers ? Hartnell would be ideal

Honestly I would take a look at Semin - if the prevailing opinion among fans and media is correct ( ) he could end up being very underpaid for his skill level - however if the guy is still unable to speak the language to me that's just the straw that breaks the camel's back (in addition to questions about his compete level, defensive play, IMO the biggest question of all being the move from the SE division to the Western Conference).

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Zamboni Driver wrote:Seems to me that we are looking for a 2nd line center. Not a 1st, not a 3rd (AKA Pahlsson)

Given that Kesler is out until Nov or Dec, and will probably not be back in form until a month or two later, we're going to need a solid 2nd line center for most of the season. Having Kesler ease his way back with 3rd line duties and then having 3 bona fide pivots come playoff time would be nice.

I'm not terribly worried about the first few months of the season.

Second line centers are typically quite expensive to trade for or sign so picking one up just to fill in while Kesler gets healthy might not be the best use of assets.

Seriously though. We need some high end skill on the top 2 lines, get rid of Booth, a whole new bottom 6 except Hansen and a nasty piece of business 6th defenseman who isn't puny like Balltard. What one player? Hmmmm, I would say somebody to play with Kesler when Kesler gets back whom has the on ice vision to actually make plays for his linemates, who that is, is a real good guess.

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Potatoe1 wrote:I'm not terribly worried about the first few months of the season.

Second line centers are typically quite expensive to trade for or sign so picking one up just to fill in while Kesler gets healthy might not be the best use of assets.

I think it would be a terrible use of assets, unless we're talking about trading Luongo for somebody like Bjugstad and looking long term.

We should be able to easily win our division on the strength of our special teams, goaltending, defense, solid group of wingers and one of the top scoring lines in the league even if Kesler is gone for months on end. Frankly, I think a bit of adversity might be good for this group, and maybe Kesler being gone would help keep the boys focused in the early goings.

The big question mark for me is the 3rd line. Can Manny become an effective player again or is he done (IMO he's done)? Lapierre has shown that he can be an effective 4th liner and versatile enough to contribute elsewhere for stretches, but can he continue to improve, take the bull by the horns and grab the #3C job?

I think the likely scenario is that we go into camp with the forward group looking pretty much as is, and guys like Schroeder and Lapierre (heck maybe even Gaunce and Ebbett) are given the opportunity to make something out of the first few months of the season on the second and third lines. It's too bad Higgins isn't a centre. He'd be an almost ideal #3C on this team.

Zamboni Driver wrote:Seems to me that we are looking for a 2nd line center. Not a 1st, not a 3rd (AKA Pahlsson)

Given that Kesler is out until Nov or Dec, and will probably not be back in form until a month or two later, we're going to need a solid 2nd line center for most of the season. Having Kesler ease his way back with 3rd line duties and then having 3 bona fide pivots come playoff time would be nice.

I'm not terribly worried about the first few months of the season.

Second line centers are typically quite expensive to trade for or sign so picking one up just to fill in while Kesler gets healthy might not be the best use of assets.

Fair enough - and agreed pot.

But who do you see being our long-term 3C solution? Lapierre? Malhotra?

If need be, I'm actually reasonably ok w Lapierre there, as I think he's earned a look at a longer stretch as the 3rd line pivot. He was pretty damn good during the Cup run.

I'm just not at all convinced that MM can handle more than spot duty. Such a drop-off since the injury.

So: Sedin, Kesler, Lapierre, Malhotra - could work, but could be so much better.

Sedin, Lapierre / Schroeder, Lapierre / Schroeder, Malhotra - for two+ months scares the fuck out of me. Adding Ebbett to that stir fry doesn't spice it up much either.

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What are people's thoughts on Fleischmann? I don't really know anything about the player, except that he had some kind of health problem?...

A friend suggested that we could try and snag him in a Luongo trade w the Cats b/c he can supposedly play both centre and wing. He could help plug the hole in Kes' absence, and then slot over when he returns.